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Talking Books

Talking Books Service provides books and magazines to eligible Kansas residents.  This library service is available for those who are unable to read or use standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical impairment.  This includes blindness, low vision, physical impairment such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or a reading disability.  There are no user fees for Talking Books.  A digital player and books are mailed to an individual’s home.

Already a Talking Book Patron? You can request books, keep track of the books you have already read, or change your address by utilizing the Keystone Library Automation Service or KLAS.  To search the National Library Service catalog, you can utilize Voyager.  You can download your Talking Books by signing up for BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download.)

  • KLAS OPAC – Online catalog to request books
  • Voyager – National Library Service online catalog
  • BARD – Braille and Audio Reading Download

If you would like more information about Talking Books, contact us at:

Talking Books Service
Southwest Kansas Library System
100 Military, Suite 210
Dodge City, KS  67801
620-225-1231
800-657-2533
smcfarland@swkls.org
For more information on what services we provide or how to sign up for Talking Books,  please use the following links:

Talking Books Eligibility
Talking Books Services
Talking Books Sign up

For Talking Book patrons wanting to request a machine or books, the phone number for the State Library is 1-800-362-0699.

 

Eligiblity

Any Kansas citizen that is certified as print impaired due to a visual or physical condition(s) may apply for Talking Books.  Such conditions may include permanent or temporary blindness, vision loss, physical condition, or reading disability.  Definitions used for application purposes are as follows: Blindness: Blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by certifying authority is 20/200 …

Services

Books and magazines are distributed by the Regional Library located in Emporia, Kansas.  The collection contains a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction titles for adults and children, including bestsellers, mysteries, romance,  westerns, christian fiction, science fiction and more.  A complete list of available titles is found on the National Library Service website –Voyager (online catalog). Patrons can access their …

Sign Up

Determine if you are eligible. Obtain an application form. Complete the application form. Have the form signed by a certifying authority as outlined on the back page of the application. Please note: patrons with a reading disability must have their form signed by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy. Faxed copies are not accepted.  Mail …